Flush tank utility shelf



March 10, 1936. A. H. GOEPEL 2,033,629

FLUSH TANK UTILITY SHELF Filed 00f. so, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORArihur H. G oepel BY ATTO EY March 10, 1936. A GOEPEL 2,033,629

FLUSH TANK UTILITY SHELF Filed Oct. 30, 1934 2 Sheets-Shec 2 INVENTORArthur H. Goe'pel Y Z TORNE Y Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,033,623 FLUSH TANK Umrry SHELF Application October 30,1934, Serial No. 750,689

16 Claims.

This invention relates to bathroom accessories, and more particularly toa utility shelf or tray adapted to be supported above the cover of atoilet flush tank.

One object of this invention is to provide a utility tray of the abovenature having supporting brackets which are readily adjustable tovarious sizes of flush tanks, and which are adapted to embrace a regulartank cover of porcelain or other material without contacting with theouter surface thereof.

A further object is to provide a utility shelf of the above nature whichmay, if desired, be used as a substitute for the regular porcelain tankcover in case the latter should become broken or otherwise unusable.

A further object is to provide a utility shelf or tray for bathroomswhich is adapted to be installed in or removed from operating positionwithout marring the woodwork or plaster of the wall or the surface ofthe flush tank and cover.

A further object is to provide a toilet shelf of the above nature whichwill be simple in construction, portable, readily attachable anddetachable, inexpensive to manufacture, compact, ornamental inappearance, and Very eflicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on theaccompanying drawings three forms in which the invention may beconveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevational view of the flush tank shelf.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken along the line2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale ofthe underside of the flush tank tray.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the shelf as it appears when in positionupon a flush tank.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of a modifiedform of flush tank shelf having an adjustable rear bracket, permittingthe shelf to be used in place of a regular flush tank cover.

Fig, 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same as it appears when inuse.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of shelfadapted for use only as a flush tank cover.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the underside of the same.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the same.

In many bathrooms of present day small houses, space is at a premiumand, consequently, the porcelain cover of the flush tank is often usedas a 'shelf for supporting various toilet accessories.

Such flush tank covers commonly have a slip 5 pery, highly-glazedsurface, rounded edges, and a crowned central portion. As a consequence,such covers are quite unsatisfactory forlus as shelves, as the articlesplaced thereon are apt to easily slide or be knocked oif, resulting inbreakage or damage to the same. By the use of the present invention, theabove and other disadvantages are avoided, and a device is providedwhich is generally useful in the bathroom and presents a pleasingappearance in association with the regular bathroom accessories.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral IDindicates a substantially rectangular flat metal shelf having a flange Hdepending from the front and side edges thereof, said shelf beingprovided with rounded front comers l2 and I3 of pleasing appearance.

The shelf I0 is adapted to be supported in a spaced position above aflush tank 14 by means of a pair of fixed rear brackets l5 and I6, and

' a pair of adjustable front brackets I1 and M3 to be hereinafter morefully described. The flush tank I4 is provided with the usual form ofdetachable cover I9 having a depending flange 20 on its front and sideedges (see Figs. 2 and 4). The construction of the brackets l5, l6, l1and it are such that the shelf It! will be supported upon the flush tankI4 without interfering with the cover [9.

The rear brackets l5 and I6 are made U-shaped and the upper legs 2| and22 thereof are secured to the underside of the shelf ID, as bysoldering. The lower legs of the rear brackets form pedestals 23 and 24which are adapted to rest upon the top rear edge of the flush tank I4and serve as seats for the rear end of the cover lid, which reststhereupon.

The adjustable front brackets l1 and [8 are provided at their lower endswith integral rear-' wardly extending S-shaped sections 25 and 26 whichare adapted to embrace the upper edge of the front wall of the flushtank M. The intermediate portion of the S-shaped sections looselyembrace with suitable clearance the depending front flange 20 of thecover l5 (see Figs. 2 and 4).

In order to provide means for adjusting the front brackets l1 and ill tovarious angular and longitudinal positions to accommodate differentsizes and shapes of flush tanks, provision is made of a pair ofelongated sliding angle bars 21 and 26 adapted to be frictionally heldagainst the underside of the shelf plate It, as by means of a pair oflongitudinal strap members 29 and 99,

having offset central sections spaced from the shelf, the ends of saidstraps being rigidly secured to the underside of the shelf plate I 9, asby soldering.

The front ends of the sliding bars 21 and 26 are provided withdownwardly offset sections 3| and 32, adapted to clear the shelf fiangeii, and said bars terminate in tapped depending lugs 93 and 94. Theadjustable front brackets l1 and 49 previously mentioned are provided attheir upper ends with longitudinal slots 95 and 36, through whichsuitable screws 91 and 98 are adapted to be inserted and engaged in thetapped holes in the depending lugs 33 and 34 for connecting saidbrackets thereto in any desired adjusted position.

In order to increase the frictional tension upon the heads of the screws31 and 96, provision may be made of a pair of split washers 39 and 49interposed between the adjacent ends of the brackets 2| and 22 and saidscrew heads.

It will be obvious from the above construction that the sliding bars 21and 26 and attached front brackets I! and i6 may be adjusted to manydifferent angular positions, permitting the shelf tray iii to be fittedto various sizes and constructions of fiush tanks.

To prevent the articles placed upon the smooth surface of the shelf illfrom sliding off, provision is made of a U-shaped raised safety rib orridge 4| positioned adjacent the front and side edges of the shelf i0,and preferably formed out of the body of the plate. A longitudinalraised rib 42 may also be formed adjacent the rear edge of the coverplate, and preferably terminates short of the rear ends of the U-shapedrib 4|, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Assembly In assembling the shelf plate I!) upon the flush tank i4, thecover l9 will first be removed from the tank i4 and then insertedlaterally between the shelf l and supporting brackets so that the rearportion of said cover I9 will rest upon the pedestals 23 and 24 of therear brackets i 5 and I 6. The front brackets i1 and i6 may then beadjusted by merely slipping the sliding bars 21 and 28 underneath thestraps 29 and 30 until the forward portions of the S-shaped sections 25and 26 embrace the depending flange 20 of the flush tank cover i9. Theshelf i0 and the cover l9 may then be assembled as a unit upon the fiushtank H. The pedestals 23 and 24 of the rear brackets I5 and i6 will thenrest upon the rear'wall and the innermost portions of the S-shapedsections 25 and 26 of the front brackets I! and I8 embracing the topedge of the front flush tank wall. In case it is necessary to level upthe shelf, the front bracket screws 31 and 99 may be loosened to permitthe shelf to be raised or lowered as desired, and then tightened.

First modified form In case it is desired to use the shelf plate I0 as afiush tank cover, it will only be necessaryto replace the fixed rearbrackets l5 and i6 (Figs.

' 1-3) with adjustable brackets 44, which modified adjust the brackets51 and 45 is frictionally held against the under side of the plate i0by,means of a short oiiset strap member 46, thus permitting the bracket44 to be transversely and longitudinally adjusted with respect thereto.If desired, the bracket 44 may be locked in adjusted position by meansof a set screw 41 threadediy engaged in a tapped hole in said strapmember 46 and binding against the leg 45 of said bracket 44.

In installing the first modified form of shelf III as a cover for thetank i4, the rear brackets 44 will first be adjusted so that they willengage the inner surface of the rear wall of the flush tank i4, afterwhich said brackets will belocked in adjusted position by means of theset screws 41. When the shelf tank i0 is thus employed in place of theusual flush tank cover, it will be understood that the front supportingbrackets i1 and i8 and the screws 31 and 36 may be removed, and thedepending front lugs 32 and 54 will engage the inner surface of thefront wall of the flush tank, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Second modified form In the second modified form as illustrated in Figs.7, 8 and 9, a utility shelf or tray 50 is shown which is constructed tobe used as a substitute for the usual flush tank cover, and not as anelevated shelf as in the first two forms of the invention. The tray 50itself is identical in all respects with the shelf plate in of the firstform and has raised safety U-shaped ribs 5| and a rear rib 52. An addedfeature is an elevated U-shaped rail 53 extending parallel to the rib 5|and supported thereabove by means of a plurality of ornamental posts 54,four in this instance (see Fig. 7).

The underside of the tray 50 is provided with a pair of strap members 55and 56 which are slightly spaced therefrom. The strap members 55 and 56are positioned diagonally across front corners of the tray 50 and areprovided with ofi'set extremities by means of which said straps 55 and56 may be secured in place to the underside of said tray, as bysoldering or welding. A pair of L-shaped brackets 51 and 58 areadjustably and frictionally engaged underneath the straps 55 and 56 andare adapted to be swung to various angular positions, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 8, so as to permit the depending lugs 59 and 60of said brackets to be abutted against the interior of the front, sideor corner walls of the flush tank as desired.

In assembling this form of the invention, it will be understood that theusual flush tank cover is discarded and that it is only necessary toslidably 58 as indicated above and to then drop the tray 50 intoposition upon the top of the flush tank i 4, as shown in Fig. 9.

While there have been disclosed in this specification three forms inwhich the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that theseforms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that theinvention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures but may bemodified and embodied in various other forms without departing from itsspirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications andembodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, andfor which it is desired to secure letters Patent, is:

1. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank having a cover, a tray, andbracket means secured to the underside of said tray and shaped to enofsaid tray.

gage upon the top of said tank and support said tray in an elevatedposition above the flush tank cover.

2. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank having a cover, a tray, andbracket means adjustably secured to the underside of said tray andshaped to engage upon the top of said tank and support said tray in anelevated position above the flush tank cover.

3. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearbrackets having means for engaging the top edge of the rear wall of saidflush tank, and a pair of front brackets having means for clipping overthe top edge of the front Wall of said flush tank.

4. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearbrackets having means for engaging the top edge of the rear wall of saidflush tank, and a pair of front brackets having means for clipping overthe top edge of the front wall of said flush tank, said front bracketshaving adjustable engagement with the underside 5. In a shelf'forattachment to a flush tank, a pair of rear brackets rigidly securedto the underside of said tray, a pair of front brackets having S-shapedextremities for embracing the top edge of the front wall of the flushtank, and means for adjustably securing said front brackets to theunderside "of said tray. i

6. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearbrackets having means for engaging the top edge of the rear wall of saidflush tank, and a pair of front brackets having means for engaging thetop edge of the front wall of said flush tank.

'7. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank,

a pair of rear brackets rigidly secured to the underside of said tray, apair of front brackets having S-shaped extremities for embracing thefrontedge of the top wall of the fiushtank, and a pair of offset strapsfor adjustably securing said front brackets to the underside of saidtray.

8.- In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearbrackets for engaging the rear wall of said flush tank, and a pair ofadjustable front brackets for engaging the front- ,wall of said tank,said brackets serving to hold said tray above said flush tank.

9. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearbrackets adjustably secured to said tray and adapted to engage the rearwall of said tank, and a pair of front brackets secured to said tray forengaging the front wall of said tank, said brackets serving to holdsaidtray abov said flush tank.

10. In a shelf for selective attachment to a flush tank either inelevated position above the top of said tank or resting directly uponsaid top as a cover, a tray, a pair of U-shaped rear brackets adjustablysecured to said tray and adapted to engage the top of the rear wall ofsaid tank or the inside of said wall, and a pair of front bracketsadjustably secured to said tray, said front brackets having detachablesections adapted to engage the top of the front wall of said tank, saidfront brackets having other sections adapted to engage the inside of thefront wall of said tank respectively in the two selective positions ofsaid tray.

11. In ashelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearpedestal brackets, a pair of adjustable bars having slidable engagementwith the underside of said tray adjacent the front corners, and a pairof front brackets adjustably secured to the front ends of saidadjustable bars.

12. In a shelf for attachment to a flush tank, a tray, a pair of rearpedestal brackets, a pair of adjustable bars having slidable engagementwith the underside of said tray, said bars having depending lugs formedintegrally at the frontextremities, and a pair of front bracketsadjustably secured to said lugs.

13.*In a cover for a flush tank, a tray, and a pair of adjustabledepending brackets having angular and slidable engagement with theunderside of said tray, whereby said brackets may be adjuste'd to engageeither the side, front or corner walls of the flush tank as thesituation may demand.

14. In a cover for a flush tank, a tray, a pair of adjustable bracketshaving means for angular and slidable enegagement withfthe underside ofsaid tray for assuming various angular positions as desired, anddepending lug means on the forward end of said brackets for engaging theinterior wall of said flush tank.

15. In a cover for attachment to a flush tank, a tray having a raisedsection positioned adjacent the edges thereof, a rail supported abovesaid tray in parallel relation to the front and sides thereof, and apair of adjustable brackets slidably and swingably fitted to theunderside of said tray for detachably holding said tray above said flushtank.

16. In a cover for attachment to a flush tank, a tray having a raisedsection positioned adjacent the edges thereof, and a pair of Iadjustable brackets slidably and swingably fitted to the underside ofsaid tray for detachably holding said tray above said flush tank.

ARTHUR H. GOEPEL.

